How to express your driving aptitude without being ****tish?

How to express your driving aptitude without being ****tish?

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Discussion

WetPaint

Original Poster:

1,212 posts

180 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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It's well known (or maybe common conjecture) that most English people believe their driving standard to be above average.

As we sit here atop our advanced driving high horses, we believe (in many cases correctly), that our driving standard is indeed better than average, if only because we take the time to think about it and try to develop our skills.

This is not a thread to argue about what it is to be 'advanced' or what the definition of average is as it's been done to death.

How does one go about explaining to a layperson that you can actually drive more proficiently than most without coming across as a complete dick?

As is evidenced by the tone of my post, its rather hard for me to explain my problem without already sounding like a pompous tt. Im really not. Promise.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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WetPaint said:
How does one go about explaining to a layperson that you can actually drive more proficiently than most without coming across as a complete dick?
Umm, why would you want to?

greygoose

8,225 posts

194 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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TooMany2cvs said:
WetPaint said:
How does one go about explaining to a layperson that you can actually drive more proficiently than most without coming across as a complete dick?
Umm, why would you want to?
Indeed, I can't really see why you would want to boast in such a way (even if it were true).

BritishRacinGrin

24,602 posts

159 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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I'm basically The Stig- let the driving do the talking... The best thing about this is it feels good when somebody is compelled to compliment your driving unprompted, just because it was particularly smooth, or you pulled off an epically good parallel park.

I don't see why you'd want to have a conversation about it anyway, some smartarse is inevitably going to start going on about how they've had no accidents, points, crashes etc in xx years, and that they never speed, which of course can only mean that they are an exceptionally skilled driver... Considerably better than you because you've had points, or you've only been driving x years etc etc.

Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Wednesday 22 October 02:30

StressedDave

839 posts

261 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
WetPaint said:
How does one go about explaining to a layperson that you can actually drive more proficiently than most without coming across as a complete dick?

As is evidenced by the tone of my post, its rather hard for me to explain my problem without already sounding like a pompous tt. I'm really not. Promise.
A few thoughts:

1. 'Better than average' does not equate to good. Average is not a particularly exceptional level of driving aptitude.
2. Criticising a man's driving skill is pretty much akin to criticising their love-making techniques. It's just not done. In any case, the testicular filter installed as standard means that any criticism comes out as 'blah blah blah' by the time it actually reaches the brain.
3. If you have to explain to someone that your driving is better than most then you're doing something wrong. Done properly it should be wholly invisible because it all happens around you rather than to you.

Pints

18,444 posts

193 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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StressedDave said:
3. If you have to explain to someone that your driving is better than most then you're doing something wrong. Done properly it should be wholly invisible because it all happens around you rather than to you.
Not if you're doing the bragging explaining from behind the comfort of your office desk.


Edited by Pints on Wednesday 22 October 10:29

Carbon Based

67 posts

126 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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TooMany2cvs said:
Umm, why would you want to?
One reason might be to encourage others to take a bit of additional driving training themselves. Being arrogant about it isn't going to get them signing up to whatever group or course is on offer.

WetPaint

Original Poster:

1,212 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
Nobody knows then wink

Its not about bragging or criticising other people at all.

Say somebody offers to lend you their car. How do you put their mind at ease and explain that you are competent enough that you are unlikely to crash their car without external influence. That statement in itself sounds big headed and arrogant, but you know what I mean.

I guess you could take them out in your own car and 'let your driving do the talking' but im still interested to know how you might go about explaining it modestly.



technodup

7,576 posts

129 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
WetPaint said:
Nobody knows then wink

Its not about bragging or criticising other people at all.

Say somebody offers to lend you their car. How do you put their mind at ease
If someone is offering to lend you their car I'd imagine that would show in itself their mind was at ease with your driving. Otherwise they wouldn't be offering. Asking for it is different and I wouldn't think in most cases boasting about driving prowess would help the cause.

And who says you're a 'better' driver than anyone else anyway? EVERYBODY thinks they're a great driver.



TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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WetPaint said:
Say somebody offers to lend you their car. How do you put their mind at ease
If they've offered, it's already sufficiently at ease.
If you think you need to beg, then they're not going to.

WetPaint said:
and explain that you are competent enough that you are unlikely to crash their car without external influence.
Umm, the driving test does that bit. It's avoiding the "external influences" that's the bit which takes skill, practice and experience.

TBH, I'm reminded of the old adage about being better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool, than open it and prove it.

R_U_LOCAL

2,676 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Remember the old joke about "watch this" being the last words of many drivers who have gone on to die in a fireball immediately afterwards?

I know it's an extreme example, but you can be sure that, the day after telling someone you're an "advanced" driver, you'll have a bump.

I always think that modesty should prevail in these matters.

Or, alternatively, you could post instructive threads on advanced driving in a motoring forum under a silly anonymous name so that everyone (foolishly!) thinks you're a driving god!

drivingevil

BluePurpleRed

1,137 posts

225 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Devils Advocate Mode: Do all the IAM type courses to prove it and show them the qualifications? If they disagree, ask to see theirs? smile


greygoose

8,225 posts

194 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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BluePurpleRed said:
Devils Advocate Mode: Do all the IAM type courses to prove it and show them the qualifications? If they disagree, ask to see theirs? smile

Plaster your car with IAM and Rospa badges to show your prowess smile .

7mike

3,005 posts

192 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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WetPaint said:
It's well known (or maybe common conjecture) that most English people believe their driving standard to be above average.
Having trained drivers of many nationalities (even Welsh, Scottish & Irish) I would suggest this statement is racist hehe

Z.B

224 posts

177 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I wouldn't be hugely encouraged to learn that someone is unlikely to crash 'without external influence'.

In fact hearing that phrase might make me reconsider the offer.....

N Dentressangle

3,442 posts

221 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I have a special sticker on the back of my car:


otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Show them your clipboard when you do your cockpit drill. Print ADVANCED MOTORIST across the top of your checklist in 22 point bold.

creampuff

6,511 posts

142 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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English drivers ARE better than average drivers around the world. Miles ahead of Yank or Australian drivers. I think even better than German drivers below 70mph but above 70, Brits get increasingly sloppy.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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creampuff said:
English drivers ARE better than average drivers around the world. Miles ahead of Yank or Australian drivers. I think even better than German drivers below 70mph but above 70, Brits get increasingly sloppy.
That is a big headed statement.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Friday 31st October 2014
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Even just expressing an interest in driving runs the risk of sounding like Alan Partridge.

I suspect that many people think that driving is innate and easy, don't realise their own limitations and wouldn't consider that they could have anything else to learn.

As has been said, probably best not to declare yourself a great driver(even if you are or think you are) as you are only setting yourself up for a fall.

Just try to drive well and some people may notice.

Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 31st October 22:45